January 7, 2019

1 Jn 3:22-4:6

And we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.

Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Which standard will I choose?

I have prayed many times over the question “To whom do I belong?” In the second week of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius asks us to make a distinct choice: Will I choose the standard of Christ or will I choose the standard of the world? In the midst of my prayer experiences, I always choose the standard of Christ. It’s the obvious choice right? In the quiet of prayer I know exactly what I’m supposed to do and the fruits that will come with that choice.

In the midst of my daily life this choice becomes more challenging. The things of the world seem shiny and new and intriguing and they draw me in. Choosing the world always seems easier….not fruitful in the long run, but easier nonetheless. In order to choose Christ I must promise to recommit in each moment to what I know is good and true.

—Kay Gregg is the Assistant Department Chair of Campus Ministry at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL.

Prayer

Jesus,in the quiet of prayeryou show me your way.Remind me that I am from Godand that the spirit of God abides with me.Please help me to bringmy prayer experience to my daily life,to ignore false prophets,and to live each moment with you at my center.

—Kay Gregg

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Welcome to Pray.ignatius.org

Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.

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When you submit your prayer request, our prayer team will personally reply to you. You may choose to have your prayer request and personal reply shared with others. Simply include the Email addresses of those you would like to inform about your prayer request, and we will notify them on your behalf.

Please know that your prayer will be remembered at Mass, and in a special way by the Jesuit priests and brothers of Colombiere Center and Saint Camillus communities, who are missioned to pray for the Church and society.

All fields are optional except for the prayer request. Please know we will only share your first name and complete prayer request with the priests and brothers. Your name and Email addresses will never be shared with anyone, nor will you receive any additional correspondence from us.

January 7, 2019

1 Jn 3:22-4:6

And we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.

Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Which standard will I choose?

I have prayed many times over the question “To whom do I belong?” In the second week of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius asks us to make a distinct choice: Will I choose the standard of Christ or will I choose the standard of the world? In the midst of my prayer experiences, I always choose the standard of Christ. It’s the obvious choice right? In the quiet of prayer I know exactly what I’m supposed to do and the fruits that will come with that choice.

In the midst of my daily life this choice becomes more challenging. The things of the world seem shiny and new and intriguing and they draw me in. Choosing the world always seems easier….not fruitful in the long run, but easier nonetheless. In order to choose Christ I must promise to recommit in each moment to what I know is good and true.

—Kay Gregg is the Assistant Department Chair of Campus Ministry at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL.

Prayer

Jesus,in the quiet of prayeryou show me your way.Remind me that I am from Godand that the spirit of God abides with me.Please help me to bringmy prayer experience to my daily life,to ignore false prophets,and to live each moment with you at my center.